Shloka 15
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
ततस्ते बहुभियोंगै: कैवर्ता मत्स्यकाड्क्षिण: । गंगायमुनयोरवारि जालैरभ्यकिरंस्तत:,मछली प्राप्त करनेकी इच्छावाले केवटोंने बहुत-से उपाय करके गंगा-यमुनाके जलको जालोंसे आच्छादित कर दिया
tataste bahubhir yogaiḥ kaivartā matsyakāṅkṣiṇaḥ | gaṅgāyamunayor vāri jālair abhyakiran tataḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Kemudian para nelayan itu, ghairah hendak mendapatkan ikan, menggunakan pelbagai helah dan membentangkan jala begitu luas sehingga air Sungai Gangga dan Yamuna seakan-akan tertutup oleh anyaman jala.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how desire for acquisition (here, fish as livelihood/wealth) leads people to deploy numerous calculated means; ethically, it invites reflection on restraint and responsible use of shared natural resources.
Fishermen, intent on catching fish, use many methods and spread nets across the waters where the Ganga and Yamuna meet/flow, effectively covering the water with nets.